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2 Esdras/4 Ezra genealogies compared to protestant Ezra
This fits your earlier assumption:
| 2 Esdras | Ezra / Chronicles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Esdras | Ezra | Same name (Greek vs Hebrew form) |
| Saraias | Seraiah | Same |
| Azaraias | Azariah | Same |
| Helkias | Hilkiah | Same |
| Salemas | Shallum | Same |
| Sadoc | Zadok | Same |
| Ahitob | Ahitub | Same |
| Achias | — | Extra name in 2 Esdras |
| Phinees | Phinehas | Same |
| Heli | — | Extra name |
| Amarias | Amariah | Same |
| Aziei | Azariah | Same |
| Marimoth | Meraioth | Same |
| Arna | Zerahiah | Name variation / compression |
| Ozias | Uzzi | Same |
| Borith | Bukki | Same |
| Abissei | Abishua | Same |
| Phinees | Phinehas | Same |
| Eleazar | Eleazar | Same |
| Aaron | Aaron | Same |
4. Key Observations (important)
1. Same priestly line
Both genealogies trace Ezra/Esdras directly to Aaron through Eleazar, not Ithamar — the high-priestly line.2. 2 Esdras is longer
2 Esdras includes additional names (e.g., Achias, Heli) that are absent from Ezra 7.This fits your earlier assumption:
- Biblical genealogies are selective, not exhaustive
- Later writers may compress, earlier or alternative traditions may expand
3. No contradiction
There is no direct conflict:- Same core names
- Same order
- Same endpoint (Aaron)
- Differences are additive, not contradictory
4. Matches Second Temple expectations
Expanded priestly genealogies are common in:- Chronicles
- Jubilees
- 2 Esdras
- Qumran priestly lists
5. Bottom Line
- 2 Esdras preserves a fuller priestly genealogy
- Ezra 7 gives a compressed, official version
- Both trace Ezra/Esdras legitimately to Aaron through Eleazar
- The differences strengthen, not weaken, the historical claim under an ancient worldview
Protestant Ezra internally is written in the 7th year of Artaxerxes which is 457 BC. 2 Esdras internally is written 30 years after the destruction of Jerusalem 587 BC therefore 557 BC, and another section says during the reign of Artaxerxes but he does not say what year. Assuming the same time as protestant Ezra then that is 457 BC. If Ezra was 20 when he wrote the first section it means he lived to around 120 years, and wrote the last section as a very old man. The talmud which is jewish fables 1 titus 14 says Ezra lived to 120. It seems like that is one of the rare instances where the talmud preserves a historical truth.
